Steelers' Broderick Jones ready to work on 'everything' after forgettable debut at left tackle

Broderick Jones didn’t want to start his season that way.

He didn’t want Aaron Rodgers to be sacked on the first snap.

He didn’t want to be responsible — directly or otherwise — for three of the four sacks taken by Rodgers in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 34-32 victory Sunday against the New York Jets.

Suffice to say, it wasn’t the way Jones envisioned his return to left tackle unfolding.

Jones didn’t mince words about his poor play when he met with reporters Wednesday, and he offered a succinct answer when asked what concerns him as well as what he needs to correct when the Steelers play the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday in their home opener.

“Everything,” Jones said. “Everything.”

Drafted in the first round in 2022 after the Steelers traded up four spots to select him, Jones spent two years playing the unfamiliar right tackle position. Veteran Dan Moore Jr. was uncomfortable changing spots, so Jones went to the right side where he started 26 games.

With Moore exiting in free agency, Jones returned to left tackle, the spot he played at Georgia before declaring for the draft after his redshirt sophomore season.

Factoring in his college days, Jones has made fewer starts at his natural position (21 total) than at right tackle. Still, he believed he was ready for the switch back to left side and could get rid of the mistakes that dogged him during his first two NFL seasons.

“I felt like I prepared the right way. My mind was in it the whole time,” Jones said. “Just a bad game, honestly. I have to continue to grow from that.”

In the 2024 season opener, Jones allowed two sacks in a win at Atlanta. And he allowed two in a December loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Jones said his performance against the Jets was more difficult to digest.

“It was a little harder,” he said. “I’m not going to lie. It’s all about the growth and development. I feel like that was needed for me. In my NFL journey and career, I needed that game.”

In Rodgers’ estimation, Jones was being too hard on himself.

“I don’t think I was moving that well,” said Rodgers, who admitted to experiencing back tightness. “I ran into at least one or two sacks. I have to do a better job using my legs. I might be old, but I feel like I can move around pretty good, but I wasn’t moving the way I usually do. I thought the protection was good for most of the game.”

The only quarterbacks sacked more in Week 1 were Tennessee’s Cam Ward, who was making his NFL debut, and Arizona’s Kyler Murray. Ward was sacked six times and Murray five.

Both are mobile quarterbacks. Rodgers, at age 41, most definitely is not.

“It definitely is (heightened),” Jones said. “He’s not really a mobile threat to anyone even though he may tuck it and run one of these days. You have to be prepared. He’s an older quarterback, seasoned in the game. We have to keep him upright, give him enough time to make his reads and put the ball on the money.”

According to NFL’s NextGen Stats, Rodgers had an average of 2.43 seconds to make his 30 pass attempts. The only quarterbacks who had less time to throw were Patrick Mahomes and Matthew Stafford.

“We can’t use his age as an excuse,” said Troy Fautanu, who made his second career start at right tackle. “Regardless if it’s him, Mason (Rudolph), Will (Howard), anybody, we have to do a better job of blocking our guy.”

Jones appreciated the feedback he received from Rodgers during and after the game. At the same time, he is aware that he is entrusted to protecting a four-time NFL MVP and former Super Bowl winner’s blind side.

“You have to figure it out. He’s not going anywhere,” Jones said. “I’ve got a full season ahead with him, so I have to lock in and do what I need to do to protect him and keep him upright.”